Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV)
Abstract
The Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV) project was a new start effort in FY 2020 that leveraged efforts under PE 0604250D8Z through the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) Ghost Fleet Overlord project. LUSVs will provide affordable, high endurance, ships able to accommodate various payloads augmenting the Navy's manned surface force in supporting the Future Surface Combatant Force (FSCF) program and Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) concept. The platforms will be capable of weeks-long deployments and trans-oceanic transits and operate aggregated with Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs), Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs), Surface Action Groups (SAGs), and individual manned combatants. Major changes from FY 2020 President's Budget request to FY 2021 President's Budget request: (1) The program will award Conceptual Design (CD) contracts to multiple vendors in FY20. The CD effort will support refinement of a LUSV Performance Specification that does not include the Vertical Launch System (VLS). The final Performance Specification will define a LUSV with reservations in the design to support integration of a variety of capabilities and payloads. This effort, which was originally planned to award in Q2 FY 2020 will be delayed until early Q4 FY 2020 in order to support amendment of the CD Request for Proposals (RFP), Performance Specification, and associated artifacts. (2) The delay in award of the LUSV CD effort will delay follow-on activities (RFP, source selection) leading up to the award of the LUSV Detail Design and Construction (DD&C) contract. DD&C award will be delayed one year, from FY 2021 to FY 2022. The DD&C award will deliver a non-VLS LUSV prototype based on the Performance Specification developed during the CD effort. (3) In lieu of the FY 2020 President's Budget request plan of awarding the LUSV DD&C contract in FY21, the Navy is planning to procure up to two additional Overlord prototypes, building on the lessons learned through the Ghost Fleet program and advances in C4I and combat system prototyping efforts. (4) The Navy plans to transition LUSV to a program of record in FY 2023 and align procurement funding to the Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy (SCN) account. Program prototyping and development strategy by year: The LUSV program has developed a vessel prototyping strategy to develop and deliver incremental capability increases and demonstrate key autonomy and automation enablers. The strategy supports research and development prototype vessels intended to demonstrate successful integration of government furnished Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) and combat systems and the reliability of automated hull, mechanical, and electrical (HM&E) systems, eventually leading to a LUSV with the Integrated Combat System (ICS) and organic payloads. Early prototype vessels will enable the Navy to accrue operational hours to gather data on autonomy, automation, and systems reliability; increase confidence in the man-machine team; and develop and refine unmanned concepts of operation (CONOPs) and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). (1) FY 2019: Ghost Fleet Overlord prototypes - quantity 2, (RDTE under PE 0604250D8Z). OSD SCO-funded vessels currently executing a two-phase experimentation plan that will conclude end of FY 2021 after which they will be turned over to the Navy. These vessels are designed to employ modular payloads and combat systems. (2) FY 2020: Overlord prototypes - quantity 2 (RDTEN). These vessels will be executed as options on the Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) contract on which the Ghost Fleet Overlord prototypes were procured. These vessels will advance the lessons learned through the Overlord project and will integrate Navy C4I systems in addition to having the capability to employ modular payloads. (3) FY 2021: Overlord prototypes - quantity up to 2 (RDTEN). Up to two additional prototype vessels are included in the FY 2021 President's Budget request which will deliver updated HM&E and integrated C4I systems and will be the first vessels to integrate a developmental version of the ICS. These vessels will also provide the Navy the opportunity to explore other potential missions (e.g. logistics support, USMC warfighting requirements) for unmanned platforms. (4) FY 2022: Prototype LUSV - quantity 1 (RDTEN). The prototype LUSV will serve as the DD&C step towards delivering a LUSV with the Integrated Combat System and VLS. The prototype will be designed and delivered based on the Performance Specification developed during the FY 2020 CD effort to include reservations in the design to incorporate a variety of capabilities and payloads. The LUSV prototype will remain at the Surface Developmental Squadron as an R&D and test asset for continued technology development and payload integration efforts. (5) FY 2023+: LUSV- quantity 7 planned in the FY 2021 President's Budget request Future Years Defense Plan (SCN). The LUSV will be delivered with fully integrated ICS and VLS and will be Fleet assets supporting Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) and Strike mission areas. The first LUSVs will be delivered in FY 2026. The ICS that will be incorporated into the LUSV will be developed under the Unmanned Surface Vehicle Enabling Capabilities (Project 3067). Non-organic payloads may be developed separately by other programs or prototyping efforts and will be further developed and/or integrated into LUSV under the Enabling Capabilities project. Key combat systems and payload technologies and enablers will continue to be developed and matured, leading to an at-sea capstone demonstration, remotely commanded from a surface combatant, in FY 2022. Overlord prototypes and LUSVs will be capable of autonomous navigation, transit planning, and COLREGS-compliant maneuvering and will be designed with automated propulsion, electrical generation, and support systems. LUSV missions will be conducted with operators in-the-loop (with continuous or near-continuous observation or control) or on-the-loop (autonomous operation that prompts operator action/intervention from sensory input or autonomous behaviors). LUSVs with integrated payload capability and prototypes employing non-organic payloads will not be capable of autonomous payload engagement or execution of a complete detect- to-engage sequence. The vessel will be incapable of payload activation, deactivation, or engagement without the deliberate action of a remote, off-hull human operator in the command and control loop. The program will integrate current Navy combat systems programs of record that have been adapted to enable remote monitoring and operational control from an off-hull command and control point, and will not be equipped with components that would enable payload engagement from onboard the vessel. USV Command and Control (C2) will be maintained via an afloat element (i.e., embarked on a United States Navy (USN) combatant/support ship), or via the ashore element (C2 station ashore).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2021
- Source ID
- 3066_0603178N_4_1319_PB_2021
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